September Diversion
Join us for the first in a series of low-key bird walks in beautiful places
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The Boston Birding Festival is excited to partner with the WCT to bring greater attention to Boston’s urban green space and advocate for conservation and greater access to parks and nature.
Simply by birding the trail and sharing your observations, you can help create more awareness of important outdoor corridors and encourage greater access to and protection for green space in the city. The data you collect will help shape urban planning decisions, increase and direct conservation efforts toward neighborhoods that have been neglected, and contribute to a better understanding of Boston’s urban ecology.
The Walking City Trail is a 27-mile hiking path through some of Boston’s parks, urban wilds, gardens, and neighborhoods. The trail connects 17 diverse Boston neighborhoods from the Neponset River Reservation to the Bunker Hill Monument.
Originally imagined by Miles Howard, journalist and hiking guidebook author, the trail has quickly become a local favorite. Guided section hikes along the trail, co-organized with Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara and Mothers Out Front sparked ideas for how the “WCT” could be expanded to include even more immersive green (and blue) spaces.
Two of the earliest WCT group hikers, Matthew Broude and Jules Murdza stepped up as fellow trail builders. In 2023, the Walking City Trail route was finalized.
Learn more: https://www.bostontrails.org
There are several ways to participate:
1. If you are a beginner birder, join one of the Boston Birding Festival’s organized Walking City Trail Bird Walks. We’ll post the schedule with target trail segments here soon, or sign up for email.
2. Join one of the WCT’s walks and bird while hiking, then send us your list. You must also register in advance for a WCT walk.
3. Lead your own walk with your own group or bird club, family, class, book club, scout troop, church group, office, etc., and share your list with us (info below). If you need assistance, we can usually find a volunteer for you.
4. Walk a section of the trail on your own or with friends and share your observations with us. You can use our spreadsheet (sign up here first and we’ll send you a link) or you can email us a spreadsheet of your own and we’ll combine your data with the group data. If you can also share photos, that would be fantastic. Email reports to hello@bostonbirdingfestival.org and put WCT in the subject line. Thank you.
5. Volunteer to lead a bird survey yourself along a segment of the train, or to be one of this project’s administrators.
Using community data, WCT is planning to publish a checklist sometime in 2026. Thank you!
SHERRIN WOODS in Hyde Park, Part of tHE WTC. PHOTO BYEd Lyons, CREATIVE COMMMONS
DUCKS ON JAMAICA POND. PHOTO BY tamlin37, Creative Commons
Want tips on being a good surveyor? We’ve got you covered. [LINK]
PS, yes, please report dead birds–see this other project. [LINK]
Download a copy of a list of Massachsetts birds. Here’s ours if you need one. [LINK]
Did you complete a walk? Share your data using this form. Submit this form with your checklist to add your data to the project. [LINK]
Or, if you are an eBird user, simply share your list with BosBirdFest and we’ll compile it.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Arnold Arboretum, PHOTO BY KrisNM, Creative Commons
Want to get email updates on this project’s progress? Or assist in organizing this project? Sign up for email above.
Thank you!
We’ll send a confirmation and let you know in advance when the next walk is scheduled in your area. Thank you!
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Registered Agent
The Boston Birding Festival
82 Wendell Ave. Suite 100
Pittsfield, MA 01201 USA
info@bostonbirdingfestival.org
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